Okay- today we are going to talk about one aspect of my job, as a retail merchant and consultant, that I truly love… the competitive landscape. It’s essential that no matter what role you have within the industry that you know the market- from product offering and pricing to marketing and online strategy. The goal should NEVER be to copy other brands, but rather utilize this knowledge to strengthen your message to the customer. You want to ensure your brand (or the brand you

I am participating in a challenge this week, one that’s forcing me out of my comfort zone and making me get a bit more personal with you. Today’s task is to dive into what we all do for a living- which for me is consulting / coaching. So I decided I would fill you in on how it all started a little over a year ago… Back in 2015 I left my merchandising job at OshKosh B’Gosh, which was probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. Not just because I loved what I did for a

It's been a couple of weeks since our last noteworthy news post, so let's dive into what's going on in the retail world... The most talked about headline this week is that Coach has purchased Kate Spade & Company for $2.4B. An acquisition we all saw coming and that the internet is now buzzing about. Here’s why… Many loyal customers are nervous that the whimsy, colorful aesthetic that the Kate Spade brand represents will be compromised under Coach's management. Which is unders

What happens when you find a pair of Keds with a 1916 box logo in your son’s closet? Well, if you are anything like me (and love the history of retail)- you get inspired. So today we are diving into how Keds came to be and what they are up to now. Let’s get started… In 1892 the US Rubber Company introduced the very first rubber-soled shoe, which single handedly changed footwear forever. Why? Because it created a little thing we all still live in called sneakers. Prior to that